I have some questions regarding how to get into wildland firefighting and figured there would be a couple of people on here who have done or still do it. A bit of backstory: I run my own small business as well as working under another guy 4 days a week, doing anything from landscaping to running mid sized excavators and dump trucks. So I'm no stranger to the work that is to be done in the field. I do enjoy working with my hands more and being on the ground, so I figure that a hand crew would be best. So here are my questions, since some of them will probably take a bit more time than others. And if anyone else wants to give their 0.02 on the subject or jobs, etc. I do want to take a job that will get me out of my hometown.

What kind of shape do I need to be in? Right now, I could definitely lose a few pounds and get a little more stamina, but just curious what a guy should prepare himself for. This is one of the questions that will probably take the longest.

How and where do I get started? Do I need any specific certifications or any of that stuff? Like I said, just wanting to be on a hand crew or that sort of deal.

Private, state, or federal employer? I figure federal will be the easiest to get into and get me the farthest away. Private could be fun, but probably one of those deals where you need to know some people.

Any other jobs or career paths I should look into besides wildland firefighting? I would like to avoid going back to school if possible. I am taking a gap year right now, as I have been working upwards of 60-70 hours a week. I'm not ultimately happy with this, though, as much as I enjoy running my small business. It's not enough to live off of and eventually move out of my parents' place. I do really enjoy tree service work like trimming and removals, and hands on work.

Kind of a rant on some random stuff, but I guess that's what happens when you think about stuff a little too hard and want opinions on a lot of stuff.

This has nothing to do with a firefighting but donnersurvivor on here (from MN) runs a tree service and is desperate for good workers. You might PM him if that interests you.

As for forest firefighting .... if he doesn't see this post.....PM 160user.

I have a friend that does it for WIS DNR , I know he has a degree in forestry but I don't think that is a requirement. He is a forester that does double duty for fire also.

I know it is hard on his wife and daughter , he is often gone weeks at a time.

Youth. Hike Hike Hike and more hiking with weight. Best way to teach your body on what's about to happen.
As for who to work for. Been with the Fed side (USFS) for 22 years. I have worked Fuels Crews, Engine Modules, Handcrews. Started at the bottom being a rookie and moved up through the ranks to Handcrew Supervisor , Senior Fire Engine Opperator AKA Engine Boss.
New going into it I would never be rich but its gotten me to most states and several countries and been able to provide for my family.
Start by looking at USA jobs and setting up a profile. Hiring season is fast approaching late August- September so I would get looking.
Pm me your number and I'll give you a call and we can talk. Heck I will have openings on my Engine for next season.

As far as being in shape goes, you can start by meeting the requirements of the arduous pack test. That’s the standard for most entry level firefighting jobs.

If you’re going for initial or a Helitack crew, you’ll need to be in shape to pass. I’m sure it’s changed now, but 25 years ago there was tests that were designed to weed the women out. Most average guys had trouble too.
Getting onto a regular crew here is pretty easy, but not too many younger ones wanna deal with physical labour in the heat & smoke. A good friend of mine just left initial attack and got on with the local full time FD, way better pay, conditions and benefits if you don’t mind dealing with pulling burnt kids out of cars/houses and seeing the odd worst day of someone’s life while their dead family lays in the ditch.
Be ready to live out of a good quality all weather suitcase from May to September…….lol.
It’s actually not that bad, nobody forces you to go anywhere. I hope you love running chainsaws….

Yep 160user will be a huge help in your interest of what is required and how and what you can do to get where you can to be. Go after your dream and you will get your opportunity and have a career

JMACK gave you good advice about getting started in USA Jobs. They will be hiring very soon for the 2027 season. It is honest and exciting work for a young single person. It takes its toll on the married folks. Back when I ran the Helitack crew we had the second longest contract in the nation, 250 days (plus contract extensions) and we had a 100% divorce rate on the crew. I always picked remote work locations that offered government housing (usually old bunkhouses or trailers). I liked them because they were remote and had no cell service, internet or anything like that. You are going to work with some great people (and a handful of not so great ones). I started right after my 18th birthday and have been retired for almost 4 years now but I got to see a lot of cool country. If I had it to do over again I wouldn't change a thing. If there is anything I can do to help you, send me a PM. I will give you my phone number and will try to answer any questions you have.

Appreciate it, by some miracle we ended up fully staffed for the moment though we had a no call no show this morning...

There’s state handcrews in Rapid City that are always hiring seasonal workers to start the season. Plus forest service and private engine. That’s where you start at the bottom. Prove that you can work your tail off and get an understanding of fire behavior. If you enjoy it stick with it and move up the ranks. Did it for 18 years highest I got was single resource boss. Like stated hike with weight on your back and carry a tool or saw. You will have to take a pack test (45 pounds of weight 3 miles in under 45 minutes)and 130/190 class I believe.

I started at 18; worked for 54 seasons. I last passed the Arduous Level Work Capacity (Pack) Test at age 73 (so how difficult can it be...?!!!)

It's honest and rewarding labor and you can make good money during busy seasons if you are in an area with a lot of fire. But you won't make a ton of money until you work up from being a "pulaski motor" and work as Overhead.

Try it seasonally and see what you think.

Pete

O the joys of youth,
I started on an emergency hire crew, then to engines, hot shot, squad boss and district crews and response crews during off seasons while working other jobs for the feds, I worked a summer on private crews and would not recommend that.

When I started it was the step test and now they do the pack test, you'll need your cardio to be pretty good, hit the tread mill on half of its biggest incline and get to 3 miles in 45 min and you'll be good.

Base pay sucks , hazard pay makes it worth while.

Lots of agencies have fire but dept of Interior just consolidated several of theirs into one fire umbrella so not sure how that will change the process. BLM Nevada will get you away from home, town, people everything LOL

The best way I've found to get and keep in shape is to cut out carbs; wheat, potatoes, rice, candy, and sodas. The pounds will disappear. Losing pounds will make you feel so much better, you don't even need to get on a rigorous excersize program, just do physical work and hike.
However, once you are in a fire camp, eat whatever you want, you will burn it all off and then some. From what I hear, they feed you very well.

Donner, I met this young man at convention last year. If he came looking for work, I think you would do well to make room for him. I believe he would be a very good worker.

Good job for a young guy who is willing to work. Kinda wish I would have gotten into it when I was your age. A lot of trappers and hound guys out west do it. If you can budget you'll make enough working fire season to have the winters off to trap and hunt. You have to figure in to the pay that you will have expenses paid while working, then all of a sudden the pay will look quite a bit better. Talk to Jmack and 160user, between the two of them they can probably line you out.

At your age, you ought to be able to suck it up and pass any of the physical tests if you want the job enough. It is when you hit 40 that getting/staying in shape really becomes important. Unless you're a real marshmallow, youth and desire ought to overcome any physical softness you have, but it'll be more pleasant if toughen up first. Get you a good pair of smokejumper boots and get them well broken in.

Did structure firefighting almost 30. There is a price to pay, been out for over 10 years and still dealing with the cost emotionally. Get a good first responder counselor early. Wild land or structural. Get in shape.

If you are interested in it, I say go for it! You just need to realize that you are signing up for NO social life, your life will revolve around work and nothing else and you will be treated lower than a snakes belly your first year. No one will invest time, effort and training in a first year rookie that may never come back. Get in there, work hard, maintain a positive attitude and doors will open for you. At the bare minimum, the chicks will dig that you are a firefighter. I bought 80 acres as a GS-2 making $4.25 per hour but I had to work like a dog to do it.

Also, when they bust out a case of MRE's be sure to get the Ham Slice or Chicken Ala Kitty. You can thank me later.

Black forests.....Green wallets !


Wild lands firefighter motto

smoke jumper is where you ought to be. You gotta to be tough as nails and meaner that a rattlesnake. But the women are fine as wine. Trouble is you will have a hard time getting in because it is Forest Service. REMEBER this is a seasonal job but you can make enough money so you only have to work maybe 5 to 6 months a year. If you are running an excavator and dump truck and need more money the guy you are working for is tacking advantage of you. Leave! Hot Shot crews pay good but it is forest service again and the FS is a pain in the (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) to work for.

I'm very interested in it, and I figure I'll try it out for a season, and I'll more than likely go back. I know what I'm signing up for, and I think that's most of the reason that I want to sign up. Thanks for the advice.

That would be awesome to get there at some point. Figure get started low and see where it goes. I enjoy it being seasonal as I already do seasonal work. The only reason I get paid as low as I do is that I have no CDL, so only able to run on private land, and I'm new at it. I make $25 an hour minus taxes and all that good stuff. Don't really need more money; I just want to try out something different and get out of this town for a while.

Love running saws and doing physical work. I don't see any of that being an issue. More of a getting into shape for it kind of deal. I thought about going the volunteer firefighter route for a bit, but I want to get out of this town and see what I can do.

You sure seem in a hurry to get out of town lol. Fighting with your folks or did a girl break your heart? Rhetorical. Doesn't matter. You are young and unattached and what you are wanting to do sounds like a good plan. Decide what state/area you want to be in. Out west? Alaska? then go do it.

Or.....you can join the military, that'll get you out of town, toughen you up, and expand your possibilities...

The Navy and Air Force both offer fire fighting careers. My son spent twelve years as a Air Force firefighter and then moved on to a career as a full time GS contract fire fighter. You recieve some of the best training avaliable and all the certifications needed, plus get to travel and see the world.

I did it for a few years after I got out of the Army. I worked seasonally for the FS and trapped in the winter. It was a good life. I worked in trails for my primary job but back then almost everyone who worked for the FS was expected to work fires in some capacity. Back then I hoped to get on permanent with the FS and they would hold that permanent job carrot out there all the time to keep good seasonals coming back. After I got married I realized I was going to have to take on a job that had benefits after I realized the FS was never going to offer us permanent jobs.

I enjoyed wildland firefighting. I did it with full crews, initial attack crews and on overhead teams. It's hard work. brutal hard work sometimes. But for a guy in reasonably good shape, its rewarding. Got to see a lot of the northwest, albeit smoke covered, hot and ashy.

Between the trail work and the firefighting I was in the best shape I was ever in, including my time in the Army. I was in good shape in the Army but not anything to compare to my years fighting wildfire and working trails.

Young man, I'll share the same piece of advice i got from my dad and totally ignored but here goes:

There are 2 types of careers you can enter into that will provide you with a good living, become a professional like Dr. or Lawyer, nurse, something that requires a degree that is in high demand and (this part is new) can't be replaced by AI. OR enter the trades and pick one that the professionals can't do and won't live without, like heating and air, auto repair, plumbing.

That being said wildland fire is a job that gets you out into the great outdoors and can become a rewarding career if done correctly. its easier to get the federal jobs if your a veteran or even in the national guard. I like I said in my first post multiple agencies have wildland fire not just the forest circus, BLM, Park service, Fish and wildlife. Smoke jumping is glamorous but Heli tac is what I wish I could have done.

Feel free to reach out as I have some connections that I can put you in touch with that should be able to give some great advice and guidance on the process.

Rember a healthy forest is a black forest.

To apply to be a smokejumper, you will need to prove yourself as a ground pounding flame beater first! Once you have worked as a FSS or Hot Shot, THEN you can apply.

You do not go directly from the couch to a jump ship.... it just doesn't work that way.

Pete

I don't know Pete, some of the Square Jumpers I met weren't the sharpest tool in the shed.

I did not say that you go from coach to jumping. I have known or know dozens of smokejumpers and you are correct you need to start as a hot shot or wildland crew. I simply said that smoke jumping was an option as is hot shot. The overall problem in the FS is they are a pain in the (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) to work for.At one time if you were in the minority ie women or color it was easier to advance.

The pack test, the minimum physical requirement for hire, is carrying a 45lb. pack, 3 miles, in 45 minutes. Not terribly difficult for someone in reasonable shape. A little harder target to shoot for would be completing a 1.5 mile run in 10:30 or less. As Jmack said, hike, hike, and hike some more.

Apply everywhere, figure out the contacts for where you are applying to, and make sure you call and tell them you’re interested, what you’re capable of, ask questions. Or if at all possible, set up a time and go visit them in person with all the same. From my experience I would say that’s one of the biggest factors in getting a job.

On the federal side, seasonal job announcements for next season are beginning to come out for next year. If you PM me I will try to pass the announcements on as I see them.

I chased a few fires in my younger days. Hard work, good times.

I say "GO FOR IT!!"

I gave it 14 summers. It’s good money and not too bad of a gig. Some days you really have to earn your money, other days, you’re getting paid to sit around and wait. Can’t speak for most of the job titles in a fire, all I’ve ever done was cut hazard trees on a falling module.

Not sure if anyone on here would know but I’ve been looking on USAJobs and I see all of the listings for wildland firefighters but I’m not sure what one would be the correct one?

Go west , young man


https://www.graybackforestry.com/

hahaha shots fired Antigov.

From what I’ve observed the inmate, private and state forestry crews work pretty hard. The feds, well…. I don’t know their work schedule but there is a usually a heck of a lot of them at the local watering hole when the fire camp is within walking distance

Grayback is usually hurting for people. The OP should look into getting a CDL. A lot of demand for water tender drivers.

As much as I disliked the FS, one thing I will say is that even on a slow (wet) year, you still get paid for working. They will find something for you to do. The contract crew gig is feast or famine.